Adjustable plier type tool



Jan. 14, 1958 R. K. PALMER ADJUSTABLE PLIER TYPE Too'r.

Filed May 19, 1955 INVENTOR RUNDLETTE K. PALMER BY ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent @fiice 2,819,638 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 ADJUSTABLE PLIERTYPE TOOL Rundlette K. Palmer, Fredericlrsburg, Va.

Application May 19, 1955, Serial No. 509,442

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-316) This invention relates to a rnechanics hand toolsand more particularly to a plier type tool which by interchangingdifferent styles and shapes of jaws may be utilized for a large varietyof operations by a mechanic for which he normally employs many separatetools.

Heretofore, numerous types of compound tools have been proposed in whichjaws and other parts of the implements may be interchanged to permitperforming a variety of operations, but the majority of these have beenrelatively cumbersome to use and much difficulty has been experienced ininterchanging the jaws or other parts of the implements. Furthermore,these prior art devices have not afforded a sufficiently rigid jointbetween the interchangeable portions and the body of the tool, in orderto maintain accurate alignment and adjustment and furthermore, theseprior art devices have not provided a plier type tool in whichadjustable wrench jaws are included, in order to permit the engagementof various sizes of nuts or bolts by mere adjustment of the spacing ofthe jaws while maintaining the jaw faces parallel.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an adjustableplier type tool in which various types and sizes of jaws may beinterchangeably utilized with a basic plier type structure in order tofacilitate the performance of a wide variety of operations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustableplier type tool which may be utilized as a wrench and in which the jawsmay be adjusted to engage a wide range of sizes of nuts or bolts whilemaintaining the jaw faces substantially parallel.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anadjustable plier type tool having interchangeable jaws or working facesand in which the crossed handles of the tool may be locked in anydesired position of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable pliertype tool in which the jaws or working faces may be convenientlyinterchanged and in which the connection between such interchangeablejaws and the basic plier structure is maintained substantially rigid andin accurate alignment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustableplier type tool in which the spacing between the jaws may beconveniently varied by manual manipulation of an adjusting wormassociated with each jaw.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anadjustable plier type tool in which a large variety of jaws may beinterchangeably utilized and in which the basic plier structure may bemade of any desired size, in order to accommodate the tool to variousgeneral types of operations which would normally be performed by arelatively large variety of separate tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of an adjustable plier type tool constructedin accordance with this invention and 2 showing jaws which may beutilized for conventional plier operations or as a substitute for anadjustable wrench;

Fig. 2 a side elevational view of the tool shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 andshowing the mounting and adjusting means for the removable adjustablejaws;

Fig. 4 a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the manner inwhich the jaws may be adjusted to engage nuts or bolts of various sizeswhile maintaining the jaw faces substantially parallel; and

Figs. 5 and 6 top plan views of two different forms of jaws which may beinterchangeably utilized in the tool of this invention.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1, anadjustable plier type tool constructed in accordance with this inventionand which may well comprise a pair of crossed handles 10 and 11pivotally secured together by a suitable pin or other member 12extending through such handles in the center of their overlappingportions. For convenience in operation, the handle 11 may be providedalong a portion of its length with a corrugated finger engaging portion13 providing spaces for receiving the fingers of the operator to preventslipping thereof and the handle 10 may be provided adjacent the fingerengaging portion 13 and on the outer surface thereof with a knurledportion 14 which further facilitates a firm gripping engagement betweenthe hand. of the opera tor and the handles M1 and 11 of the tool.

The handle 10 is provided on its outer end with an enlarged portion 15and the handle 11 is provided on its outer end with a similar enlargedportion 16. The outer ends of portions 15 and 16 present a substantiallystraight flat surface 17 and, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there isprovided in each portion 15 and 16, a slideway 18 which opens outwardlyat the surface 17. The slideway 118 extends entirely through theenlarged portions 15 and 16 and is disposed transversely of the pivotalaxis of the handles 10 and 11 and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, eachslideway 113 is provided with opposed ribs 19 and opposed grooves 21),the purpose of which will be presently described.

Each enlarged portion 15 and 16 is provided with an elongatedrectangular recess 21 which is open on opposite sides of the enlargedportions 15 and 16 and which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, communicateswith the slideway 118 in each enlarged portion 15' and 16. Rotatablymounted in each recess 21 is an adjusting worm 22 which is rotatablymounted on a removable pin or axle 23 threaded into the enlarged portion15 and 16. The pin or axle 23 may be conveniently removed to permitremoval and replacement of the worm 22 in the case of damage thereto.

A jaw 24 may be removably received in the slideway 18 in each enlargedportion 15 and 16 and the jaw 24 may be provided with a surface 25 forslidably engaging the surface 17 on the enlarged portions 15 and 16 andalso the jaw 24 may be provided with a reduced. portion having opposedgrooves 26 and ribs 27 for slidingly engaging the ribs 19 and grooves219 in the enlarged portions 15 and 16 of the handles lit and 11. Eachjaw 24 is provided with an inwardly projecting, elongated portion 28having teeth 29 formed therein, which teeth are designed to engage andmesh with the teeth on the adjusting worms 22. It will consequently, beobvious that upon rotation of either worm 22, that the associated jaw 24will be moved transversely of the enlarged portion 15 or 16 to vary oradjust the distance between the opposed jaw faces 29 and thereby permitthe engagement with work of varying sizes.

Since it is frequently desirable to lock the handles 10 and 11 againstmovement toward or away from each other and in adjusted position, thereis provided for this purpose, a locking means in the form of a set screw30 threadedly received in the handle and such set screw projects throughthe handle 11) adjacent the pivot point 12 and the inner end 31 of theset screw 3d may be positioned within a selected cup-shaped recess 32provided in the abutting surface of the handle 11 and it is, of course,to be understood, that as many recesses 32 may be provided as isdesirable. T he locking screw may be provided with a wing-type head 33to permit convenient manipulation by the user and it is also to beunderstood, that if desired, a pin may be utilized in place of the screw319 with such pin slidably received in the handle 16? and engaging in asuitable recess in the adjacent part of the handle 11. By the use ofthis locking means, the handles 10 and 11 may be securely locked in anydesired angular position of adjustment thereby preventing separation ofthe jaws 26 upon the application of a turning or other force to thehandles 14% and 11.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the tool of this invention may be utilized as awrench and for this purpose, the jaws 24 may be suitably adjusted bymanipulation of the worms 22 to permit the same to engage a nut 34 ofany desired size and, of course, for this operation, the handles 111 and11 will be locked by means of the screw 34 in closed position, as shownin Fig. 1, in order that the jaw faces 29 will be maintainedsubstantially parallel, regardless of the spacing therebetween, asafforded by adjustment of the worms 22. The nut or bolt 34 may beremoved or tightened by suitable turning movement of the handles 10 and11 and a series of such bolts or nuts 34 may be engaged without changingthe adjustment of the jaws 24, by merely releasing the locking screw 30to permit separation of the handles 10 and 11 and consequent separationof the jaws 24 to permit removal of the same from the nut or bolt 34.Upon applying the jaws 24 to another nut 34 of the same size, it ismerely necessary to close the handles 10 and 11 and lock the sametogether by means of the locking screw 30.

It is, of course, obvious, that many different types, sizes and shapesof jaws may be substituted for the jaws 24 in order to expand theusefulness of the tool of this invention and to permit the performanceof a wide variety of operations and for illustrative purposes onl thereis shown in Fig. 5, a pair of jaws 35 provided with semi-circularrecesses 35 in their opposed faces, which recesses may be provided withteeth 37 to permit engagement of the jaws 35 with a pipe or other roundobject and prevent slippage therebetween. The jaws 35 are provided withgrooves 38 and ribs 39 which engage with the ribs 19 and grooves 21)respectively, in the enlarged portions 15 and 16, and the jaws 35 arelikewise, provided with teeth dill on their inner ends for engaging theadjusting worms 22. In order to interchange these jaws, it is onlynecessary to manipulate the worms 22 in a manner to move the jaws 24transversely of the enlarged portions 15 and 16, until they can beremoved from the slideways 18, whereupon the jaws 35 may be inserted insuch slideways and moved toward each other by rotation of the worms 22.

In a similar manner, there may be provided jaws 41, as shown in Fig. 6,which may be utilized for pruning or cutting purposes and in these jawsthe same are provided with opposed cutting edges 42, which may beadjusted as to spacing by manipulation of the worms 22, in order toproperly engage the object to be cut, depending upon the diameter orsize thereof. In a like manner, the jaws 41 are provided with grooves 43and ribs 4-4 to slidably engage the grooves 2d and ribs 19 in theenlarged portions 15 and 16 and these jaws 41 are also provided, ontheir inner ends, with teeth 45 for engaging the worms 22 to permitrelative adjustment of the jaws. These jaws may be substituted for thejaws 24 in the manner above described.

Of course, a wide variety of other types, shapes and sizes of jaws maybe utilized, but no useful purpose is seen in illustrating anddescribing such jaws, since the examples shown and described, arebelieved sufiicient to provide a clear understanding of the purpose andopera tion of the tool or" this invention. Obviously, such tool providesa convenient implement which is adapted to a wide variety of operationsand which obviously, may be made in a manner to provide sufiicientstrength and rigidity to maintain accurate spacing and alignment betweenthe work engaging jaws. The tool of this invention, likewise, permits amechanic to carry one such basic plier tool, together with the necessaryinterchangeable jaws, which will eliminate the necessity of transportinga large number and variety of separate tools while still permitting theuser to perform all necessary and desired operations.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An adjustable plier type tool comprising crossed levers pivotallysecured together intermediate their ends, jaw mounting and adjustingmeans on one end and a handle member on the other end of each lever, afinger engaging portion on one handle member, said means comprising anopen slideway extending transversely of the pivotal axis of each lever,opposed ribs and grooves in said slideway, an elongated rectangularrecess in each lever open on opposite sides and communicating with saidslideway, a jaw adjusting worm rotatably mounted in said recess andprojecting into said slideway, a jaw removably and slidably disposed ineach slideway, ribs and grooves on said jaw cooperating with the ribsand grooves of said slideway, teeth on the inner edge of said jawengaging threads on said worm whereby upon rotation of said worm saidjaw will be moved longitudinally of said slide way, a locking screwthreadedly engaging and extending through one lever adjacent the pivotpoint and a plurality of angularly spaced recesses in the other leverfor selective engagement by the end of said screw to selectively locksaid levers in adjusted angular relationship, the ad justment of saidjaws by said worms providing a variable spacing between said jaws whilemaintaining the same in a fixed angular relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS874,394 Cork et al. Dec. 24, 1907 1,227,183 Needharn May 22, 19171,386,365 Roberts Aug. 2, 1921 1,488,811 Garletts Apr. 1, 1924 1,691,216Strobel Nov. 13, 1928 2,513,401 Coles July 4, 1950 2,720,805 Brynge Oct,18, 1955

